Inside the Phillies with MLB.com beat writer Todd Zolecki

Castillo Is Here

Luis Castillo finally arrived to Bright House Field. He spoke for roughly six minutes this afternoon. He is scheduled to take his physical today.

Here is some of what he said:

Q: Excited to be here?A: Yeah, man. Anybody would be excited to play for the Phillies. I feel good. I’m happy to be here.

Q: You were supposed to be here yesterday. Yo’ure late. What happened?A: I had a miscommunication with me and my agent, saying I had to report today. That’s what it was. More important for me, I’m here and I’m excited to be here.

Q: The Phillies said you must earn a job. Is that your understanding?A: I’m healthy and I feel good. I know I have to prove I’m ready. I’m here to play baseball and help this team win some games.

Q: How much do you feel like you have left in you?A: This year I feel more in shape than five years ago. Now I’m fine. I’m fine. I’ll give everything I have on the field. Working hard and showing the people and the fans I can still play.

Q: Did they tell you what your chances are?A: I know (Chase) Utley is hurt right now. I’m fighting for a job here. I want to compete and I want to win the job. I want to play. I have 10 days to prove it. I’m trying to get ready.

Q: Is that enough time to win the job?A: I haven’t played in a week, but I’ve been doing stuff — batting practice and other stuff. The more days I’m here playing it’s better for me. I’ll do the best I can.

Q: Is this a fresh start for you, leaving New York?A: It’s hard, man. It’s New York. You know how New York is. I had a lot of moments in New York. I want to be focused and play baseball. I don’t want to think about the fans and media and all this stuff. I want to focus on baseball and show people I can still play.

Q: Does it bother you that scouts and other people think you can’t play anymore?A: It bothers me a little bit, but that’s the chance I have here. I have an opportunity to show I can still play. That’s why I’m here. That’s what I’m going to try to do.

Q: Easier to perform now that you’re out of New York, knowing the Phillies are a winner?A: It’s good, man. When you’re playing on a team you like to win. That’s a winning team. I’m excited because I like to win. When I won the World Series in 2003, you feel good. When you lose a game you have to forget it. You have to focus on the next game. I’m happy to be here. I’m glad I have an opportunity.

Q: Do you feel like your name has been tarnished after what happened with the Mets?A: I feel like I’m starting to play baseball again. Like I’m a rookie guy. I know a lot of stuff is coming out. I’m trying to forget the past. I’m to focus and play and I want an opportunity here.

Q: What was this spring’s meeting with Mets manager Terry Collins about? He had a problem with your demeanor?A: When I spoke with Terry, we spoke about the situation. I needed a chance to play. He woudn’t give me a chance to play. It didn’t work out. I told him, if he didn’t give me the chance to play that I don’t know if I have to be on the team. He decided to release me. He didn’t want to give me the opportunity and I’m here.

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11 Comments

On a scale of 1 – 10, with 10 saying the absolute right thing (a la Roy Halladay) and 1 saying that absolute wrong thing (a la Charlie Sheen), I’d give this about a 7. Could have been better, but could have been much worse. Thanks for posting, Todd

“I had a miscommunication with me and my agent, saying I had to report today”. “I haven’t played in a week, but I’ve been doing stuff “.
So let’s recap…you just got cut, scouts are trashing you, your manager trashed you,….so why rush to get to a team right away and prove you can still play?
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give him a 2. And he got one for finding his way to Clearwater.

As for inviting Castillo to spring training, I agree with what Amaro said: its a low-risk situation, so why not? But personally, I think Castillo is an idiot. Philliesphans said it all. Why rush to the place where you are trying to impress? Castillo will have to hit a home run at every bat and be able to stop an army at 2nd for me to trust him over Valdez for opening day. Valdez is proven from last year and has made his point again this spring training that he is capable of being an every day player.

What are they going to find out about this guy in 8 days that they didn’t already know?
It sounds like they aren’t happy with the guys they have. Otherwise, why would they have brought this clown into camp?
How nice of Castillo to throw his agent under the bus. Miscommunication? What year is this?

Still thinks we should stop looking for second basemen and start looking for thirdbasemen. Let Polly pplay 3rd, which helps his arm, and pick up a guy to play the corner (just not Michael Young, please)

Castillo is an over the hill, slow in the field, no pop with the bat, bad clubhouse guy malcontent who had as much interest in showing up at Phillies camp as Lindsay Lohan does for showing up for trial. What’s to like? Oh yeah, Charlie likes big name older veterans (even if they can’t play) over younger guys with upside and athletic ability. And if you think that Charlie won’t make the FINAL decision on who makes the 25 man roster , I’ve got some beachfront property in South Philly to sell you. It’s sad, but true. If I’m RAJ, I’d cut Castillo tonight , then tell Charlie and point Luis’ vehicle out of Clearwater to be sure he leaves.

Castillo is an over the hill, slow in the field, no pop with the bat, bad clubhouse guy malcontent who had as much interest in showing up at Phillies camp as Lindsay Lohan does for showing up for trial. What’s to like? Oh yeah, Charlie likes big name older veterans (even if they can’t play) over younger guys with upside and athletic ability. And if you think that Charlie won’t make the FINAL decision on who makes the 25 man roster , I’ve got some beachfront property in South Philly to sell you. It’s sad, but true. If I’m RAJ, I’d cut Castillo tonight , then tell Charlie and point Luis’ vehicle out of Clearwater to be sure he leaves.

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